AmeriCorps

What is an AmeriCorps member?

Civic Works AmeriCorps members spend one year or one summer serving Baltimore’s communities. In return, they receive a stipend, training, and an education award that can be used for college, trade school, or to repay qualified student loans.

Open Positions

A listing of open AmeriCorps positions at Civic Works can be found here.

Orchard Organizer

Civic Works Baltimore Orchard Project (BOP) works to strengthen Baltimore’s communities
through planting and cultivating orchards, teaching citizens to be long-term stewards, and
sharing the harvest among neighbors.

Position Overview:

Civic Works’ Baltimore Orchard Project seeks an outgoing individual with a passion for food
justice, community development, and the environment. The BOP AmeriCorps Orchard
Organizer will serve with community members throughout Baltimore to provide assistance with
growing community orchards. They will foster new relationships with potential planting partners
as well as strengthen relationships with past stewardship partners. The orchard organizer will
also help community partners build their capacity to better engage their neighbors.

Member Service Activities:

● Participate in outreach, site evaluation, designing, planting, and follow-up with partners
● Maintain and increase the number and quality of planting partnerships with
neighborhood groups, faith institutions, universities and schools in Baltimore City.
● Assist in the stewardship and enhancement of existing orchard locations
● Collaborate with BOP partners to discuss and implement community engagement ideas
● Regularly attend neighborhood association meetings, networking events, block parties
and service days in the communities where BOP serves
● Organize outreach and tabling events to increase the engagement of Baltimore’s
community with fruit and nut trees
● Raise awareness of “ugly” or strange fruit through BOP’s funky fruit campaign
● Collaborate with BOP Team members on carrying out community-building and
awareness events (e.g. Potlucks, Mulberry Madness, Apple-anche etc.).
● Regularly water, maintain, and organize service days for the BOP nursery
● Participate in harvests and expand gleaning operations in Baltimore City
Desired Skills and Education:
● Experience or strong interest in community organizing, food justice and landscape
design
● Must comply with AmeriCorps terms and refrain from Prohibited Activities (below) during
service hours
● Possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills
● Must possesses desire and ability to take initiative
● Ability to serve with a wide variety of communities and work with a diverse team
● Must be able to serve independently and as part of an integrated team
● High school diploma or GED is required, or committment to obtaining a diploma/GED
● Must be and remain drug free during the term.
● Car and valid driver’s license preferred (but not required)

Hours:

This position requires 40 hours a week throughout the term in order to complete the 1700
Americorps term of service between September 2018 to August 2019.
Terms of Service
The 1700-hour Civic Works Americorps position includes a biweekly stipend of $680 and an
educational award of $5,815.00 upon completion of service (that can be used for college, trade
school, or to repay qualified student loans). Funding for americorps members to participate in
workshops and other professional development opportunities is also available. Additionally,
BOP team members are welcome to take extra fruit home from harvest events.
In order to be a Civic Works AmeriCorps member, you must be: at least 17 years old; a U.S. Citizen, U.S.
National, or “lawful permanent resident alien”; and able to pass a drug test and criminal and sex offender
background check.

As an AmeriCorps member you may NOT participate in the following activities:
● Political Advocacy: AmeriCorps members cannot engage in political advocacy. They cannot
advocate for legislation or for a political candidate in any way. They cannot conduct voter
registration drives or lobby government officials at any level.
● Religious Instruction: AmeriCorps members cannot engage in religious instruction. They cannot
conduct religious studies, prayer groups, pastoral counseling, or any other activity promoting or
providing information about religion. This does not prohibit AmeriCorps members from participating
in non-religious activities at religious meetings or services.
● Abortion Referrals: AmeriCorps members cannot provide abortion services or referrals for receipt of
such services.
● Clerical Service: AmeriCorps members may engage in clerical activities, such as photocopying,
stuffing envelopes or answering phones for their own project. They cannot engage in these
activities in assisting another person.
● Fund Raising: AmeriCorps members cannot seek in-kind donations and assist with fund raising
events, mailings, or other activities, write grants (or portions of grants) or participate in capital fund
raising activities or campaigns.
The list above is a summary, for detailed prohibited activities go to the following link:
http://www.americorps.gov/pdf/12_0731_americorps_provisions.pdf

To Apply
First, send a 1) letter of interest and 2) a resume or completed application to Kevin Antoszewski,
Baltimore Orchard Project, 2701 St. Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD 21213 or via email
to kevin@baltimoreorchard.com with “Orchard Organizer” in the subject line.
Then, apply for the position through AmeriCorps by visiting myamericorps.gov to login or create
a myAmeriCorps account and search listings for “Baltimore Orchard Project.”
Applications are due by midnight on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Interviews will take place on a
rolling basis starting in August. The start date for this position is expected to be on or around
September 18, 2018.

Youth Educator

Civic Works Baltimore Orchard Project (BOP) works to strengthen Baltimore’s communities
through planting and cultivating orchards, teaching citizens to be long-term stewards, and
sharing the harvest among neighbors.

Position Overview

Civic Works, Inc. seeks an individual with a demonstrated passion for youth education, food
justice, community development, and the environment to help coordinate Baltimore Orchard
Project’s Youth Education program. The Youth Educator will develop curriculum involving
science, art, and culture to empower students in taking care of their orchards. Daily tasks will
include teaching classes k-12, writing curriculum, designing schoolyard landscapes,
collaborating within the BOP team and developing BOP’s educational partnerships.

Member Service Activities:

● Integrate Orchard Ecosystem Education into Baltimore City schools, after-school
programs, non-profit educational programs, and youth groups
● Collaborate with BOP’s Youth Education Team (Education Coordinator, one other Youth
Educator, and MICA CAC Member)
● Support Baltimore City School teachers’ use of the school landscape in their regular
teaching hours through developing creative lessons and workshop curriculum
● Create and/or manage educational materials and spaces
● Support Education Coordinator in conversations with school administrators and hold
activities with students through the pre-planting process
● Organize implementation of landscape adjustments decided upon by school community
● Regularly attend school and neighborhood meetings, block parties, service days
● Provide technical support for the stewardship and enhancement of existing orchards
● Collaborate with BOP Team members on carrying out community-building and
awareness events (e.g. Potlucks, Mulberry Madness, Apple-anche etc.).
Desired Skills and Education:
● Previous experience with outdoor or environmental education preferred
● Experience or strong interest in facilitating a social justice, anti-oppressive classroom
and service environment.
● Experience or strong interest in STEAM and hands-on learning
● Interest in nutrition or gardening
● Ability to effectively manage a classroom
● Possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills
● Must possesses desire and ability to take initiative
● Ability to serve with a wide variety of communities and work with a diverse team
● Must be able to serve independently and as part of an integrated team
● High school diploma or GED is required, or committment to obtaining a diploma/GED
● Must be and remain drug free during the term.
● Car and valid driver’s license preferred (but not required)

Hours

This position requires 40 hours a week throughout the term in order to complete the 1700
Americorps term of service between September 2018 to August 2019.
Terms of Service
The 1700-hour Civic Works Americorps position includes a biweekly stipend of $680 and an
educational award of $5,920.00 upon completion of service (that can be used for college, trade
school, or to repay qualified student loans). Funding for americorps members to participate in
workshops and other professional development opportunities is also available. Additionally,
BOP team members are welcome to take extra fruit home from harvest events.
In order to be a Civic Works AmeriCorps member, you must be: at least 17 years old; a U.S. Citizen, U.S.
National, or “lawful permanent resident alien”; and able to pass a drug test and criminal and sex offender
background check.

As an AmeriCorps member you may NOT participate in the following activities:
● Political Advocacy: AmeriCorps members cannot engage in political advocacy. They cannot
advocate for legislation or for a political candidate in any way. They cannot conduct voter
registration drives or lobby government officials at any level.
● Religious Instruction: AmeriCorps members cannot engage in religious instruction. They cannot
conduct religious studies, prayer groups, pastoral counseling, or any other activity promoting or
providing information about religion. This does not prohibit AmeriCorps members from participating
in non-religious activities at religious meetings or services.
● Abortion Referrals: AmeriCorps members cannot provide abortion services or referrals for receipt of
such services.
● Clerical Service: AmeriCorps members may engage in clerical activities, such as photocopying,
stuffing envelopes or answering phones for their own project. They cannot engage in these
activities in assisting another person.
● Fund Raising: AmeriCorps members cannot seek in-kind donations and assist with fund raising
events, mailings, or other activities, write grants (or portions of grants) or participate in capital fund
raising activities or campaigns.
The list above is a summary, for detailed prohibited activities go to the following link:
http://www.americorps.gov/pdf/12_0731_americorps_provisions.pdf

To Apply
First, send a 1) letter of interest and 2) a resume or completed application to Vanessa Lubiner,
Baltimore Orchard Project, 2701 St. Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD 21213 or via email
to vlubiner@civicworks.com with “Youth Educator” in the subject line.
Then, apply for the position through AmeriCorps by visiting myamericorps.gov to login or create
a myAmeriCorps account and search listings for “Baltimore Orchard Project.”
Applications are due by midnight on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Interviews will take place on a
rolling basis starting in August. The start date for this position is expected to be on or around
September 18, 2018.

Who is eligible to join AmeriCorps?

In order to be a Civic Works AmeriCorps member, you must be:
• At least 17 years old;
• A U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien; and
• Able to pass a drug test and sex offender registry check